One report you might be able to dismiss. Two, you might consider a hiccup of statistics. But, when report after report and comparison after comparison lists Alabama’s Black Belt among the most unhealthy areas in the state and the area of the state with highest teenage pregnancy rates, infant mortality and adult obesity, then you have a trend.

Such is the case right now in Alabama’s Black Belt where a report released last week lists counties in this region as the unhealthiest counties in the state. And the report doesn’t just look at health factors, it also examines social health factors such as high school dropout rates, violent crimes and unemployment; all categories where our area is failing.

This region of Alabama has so much potential, so much promise, yet we cannot seem to find traction in moving forward and catching up to other areas of the state and nation. And the question now becomes, why?

Why after years of political strength in Montgomery was this area not able to garner more in infrastructure development that would make it easier to attract new industry and jobs?

Why after years of task forces, studies and formations of pseudo-political groups have we not been able to break the trend of violent crime?

Why after years of commissions, political promises and countless grants have we not been able to improve school dropout rates and cut down on reported teenage pregnancies?

These reports should no longer become those we expect to receive because that’s the way it’s always been. These reports should serve as a wake up call to social, political and educational leaders that what we have tried for decades is simply not working and that another plan is needed.

We can no longer sit back and be satisfied with being the best in the Black Belt or improving over last year, we must set our sights on dramatic improvements, significant advancements and then settling for nothing less.

It is time — rather it has been time — for this region to wake up, stand up and change its ways. We are better than this and it’s time we started showing it.v